Jackie Shane – Any Other Way

A Soul Resurrection

Jackie Shane oozes confidence and soul on the reissued double album, Any Other Way. Shane is the unsung transgender trailblazer of the ‘60s. In the early ‘70s, after turning down potential deals with Motown and Atlantic records and refusing an offer to work with Funkadelic, she disappeared from the music scene– until now. The collection features her six 45s, covers and highlights from her 1967 live session at the Sapphire Tavern.

The album kicks off with the electric “Sticks And Stones.” The pianist flies over the keys in double-time as Shane belts, “I’ve been abused! / Deep down in my heart.” Other dance-worthy highlights are “Comin’ Down” and “Money (That’s What I Want).” Doo-wop singers echo Shane, a jazzy saxophone solo adds extra flavor and a simple, beachy bass riff anchors “Comin’ Down.” Meanwhile, parlor piano and tooting horns make up “Money (That’s What I Want).” The uptempo tracks cater to Shane’s Little Richard-like howling, but the slow songs capture her voice at its most alluring. A good example being “Any Other Way,” where her voice is sultry yet, refined.

Shane’s studio recordings never cross the three-minute mark, but the live second half has tracks that triple this length, with Shane playing to the crowd. One of the live highlights is “High Heel Sneakers.” Shane is like a howling cat but never falters on the rhythm or melody. Then, she brings the soul, wailing and vibrato to classics “Knock On Wood” and “Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag” with ease.

The epic also included a 20,000-word essay about Shane’s life, penned by Rob Bowman. On being a southern, black trans woman, Bowman said of Shane, “Her identity was never an act designed to play with an audience’s sense of exotica. Jackie was always, without apology, her authentic self. And she was always able to hold an audience in the palm of her hand, mesmerizing them with her radiant eyes, extraordinary vocal abilities, and graceful, subtle stage presence.”

Young Jackie was full of wisdom and class. Listeners will feel a part of the audience of half a century ago as Shane preaches to the crowd in little snippets between melodies. The live version of “Any Other Way” trails off on a message of self-love — “I live the life I love, and I love the life I live. And I hope you’ll do the same. Ya know, you’re supposed to live. As long as you don’t force your will and your way on others — forget ‘em baby, ya don’t need ‘em.”

Jackie Shane is now near 80-years-old, continuing to live a quiet life out of the spotlight with her cats in Nashville. As they say, she wouldn’t have it Any Other Way.